Safety pin



Feb, 22, 1957 D. R; SHELTON 2,780,852

SAFETY PIN Filed Nov. 20, 1953 Darrell RShe/fm I N V EN TOR.

BY 5mm Attorneys nited States Paten SAFETY PIN Darrell'R.'Shelton,"Brownvvoofl, Tex. Applicationflovemberlfl,i1953,rSei-ial N0. 393,376

' 2 Claims. (CUM-159) This invention relates in general to improvements in pins and more specifically to an improved safety pin.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved safety pin which is so constructed whereby the pin is normally in a closed position whereby the point of the pin portion thereof is protected so that small children and the like cannot be accidentally injured through the use of the safety pin or by swallowing the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved safety pin which is so constructed whereby it may be conveniently secured to an ornament or the like and which will serve to rigidly retain the ornament on a dress or other similar article.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved safety pin which may be formed of a single length of material through a simple bending operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved safety pin which includes an integral spring portion for retaining the pin portion thereof in engagement with a keeper portion, the same containing handles for facilitating the removal of the pin portion out of engagement with the keeper portion to permit the positioning of the safety pin.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the safety pin which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline of the same;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rotated side elevational view of the safety pin of Figure 1 and shows it engaged with a piece of cloth, the safety pin being shown in its initial inserting position relative to the cloth by phantom lines, the cloth also being shown by phantom lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 1 and shows the general relationship between the free end of the pin portion and the keeper portion.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the safety pin which is the subject of this invention. The safety pin is formed of an elongated strip of material, which is preferably spring wire, the material being referred to in general, by the reference numeral 10. The material is so formed so as to provide a keeper portion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, at one end thereof. The opposite end of the material 10 is in the form of an elongated pin portion which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The intermediate portion of the material 10 is so bent to form a spring which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. Portions of 2,730,852 Patented Feb. 12,

the material 10 immediately adjacent'the spring 16 are bent to formhandlesls and 20. V

The': keeper'portion12 includes apair of U-shaped parts 22 and2'4-,"the 'u-shape'd partf22 being formed at the extreme end ofthe materialand secured at that end to 'an end of "theU-shaped jpart'24. 'The U-shaped parts 22 and 24 terminate at' their oppositeen'ds'in reversely' bent parts which form 'generally horizontal shoulders 26. The

-to whichthe free end of'the U-shapedpart "22 is connected is an elongated straight-portion? which is aligned with thehpin portion14. The straightiportion 30 terminat'es in 'the handle'2'0, f'the handle 20' being performed looping the material lll and twisting'it as at 32 to reinforce the handle 20. The handle 18 is formed by looping the material 10 at the end of the pin portion 14 remote from its pointed end 34 and is reinforced by a twisting as at 36. The spring 16 is formed at the ends of the twisted parts and is integral therewith. It will be noted that the spring 16 extends transversely of the general longitudinal axis of the safety pin and includes a pair of loops 38 and 40. The twisted portions are so arranged whereby they are received between the loops 38 and 40 so as to prevent displacement of the handles 18 and 20.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the pin portion 14 is engaged with cloth, such as the cloth 42, by squeezing together the handles 18 and 20. This overcomes the force of the spring 16 and moves the pointed end 34 of the pin portion 14 out of the confines of the keeper portion 12. The pin portion 14 is then passed down through the cloth 42, underneath of a portion of the cloth 42 and back up through the cloth 42. The handles 18 and 20 are then released and the spring 16 returns the pointed end 34 of the pin portion 14 to a position within the confine of the keeper portion 12 and at rest on the seat 28.

After the pin has been positioned as set forth above relative to the cloth 42, that portion of the cloth 42 betwen the points of penetration of the pin portion 14 is straightened out so as to overlie the entire part of the pin portion 14 between the seat 28 and the spring 16. The cloth 42 is then disposed between the pin portion 14 and the shoulders 26, as at 44. Inasmuch as the cloth 42 is disposed between the pin portion 14 and the shoulders 26, it will be seen that the pin portion 14 is prevented from being moved out of the confines of the keeper portion 12 by the cloth 42, this provides a safety lock for the safety pin which is the subject of this invention so as to prevent accidental disengagement thereof.

When it is desired to release the safety pin from the cloth 42, that portion of the cloth as at 44 is slid towards the spring 16 so as to free the cloth 42 from the shoulders 26. The pin portion 14 may then be moved out of the confines of the keeper portion 12 by squeezing the handles 18 and 20 together.

Although the pin illustrated and described here is primarily intended to function as a conventional safety pin, it will be understood that by securing the part 30, the handle 20 and the keeper portion 22 to the back of an ornament, the pin may be utilized for securing ornaments to clothing without the possibility of the pin being accidentally released and the loss of the ornament.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and

accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the ap-' 2. A safety pin as in claim 1, said keeper portion ineluding a pair of laterally spaced U-shaped parts for back portion, said back portion and pin portion being bent at the other end of the pin into a pair of opposite handle loops, and being twisted and looped intermediate the ends of the pin to form twists around said back and pin portions closing said loops and terminating in a helical spring cross connecting said twists and spacing the same apart to correspondingly space said back and pin portions and normally urging said pin portion toward said back portion, said handle loops being movable toward each other in opposition to said cross connecting spring to move said pin portion away from said back portion and thereby unseat said pin portion.

receiving said end of the pin therebetween and a U-shaped seat for said end of the pin bowed toward said back portion and terminally cross connecting said parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 535,399 Pittman Mar. 12, 1895 578,390 Colbath Mar. 9, 1897 1,418,543 Dobesch June 6, 1922 1,565,397 Richardson Dec. 15, 1925 2,491,301 Dodds Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,048 Denmark 1914 41,981 Austria 1910 

